Two-time MVP Young says Brady's ankle was 'hurting'

Published 10:00 pm, Thursday, January 31, 2002

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Steve Young, who saw tape of the Patriots' practice, said yesterday that Brady was "definitely hurting" while practicing.

"I just saw him drop back," Young said. "I think he's hurting."

Super Bowl practices are closed to the media except for a pool reporter and photographer. Pool reports the past two days said Brady appeared to have no problems with the ankle he sprained in the AFC championship game. In his capacity as an ESPN analyst, Young saw NFL Films pool video.

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"I don't think the ankle will be an issue," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. Yesterday's pool report said Brady rolled out "without any sign of a limp" and stayed after practice for five minutes with No. 3 quarterback Damon Huard.

Brady said he expected to wear a brace to stabilize his left ankle.

"From where it was Sunday, it feels a ton better than it did," he said. "It's a little tender, but there's a lot of body parts of mine that are sore."

Young did endorse Belichick's decision to start Brady over Drew Bledsoe. The Patriots have won eight consecutive games with Brady as the starter and have gone 13-3 since he took over for Bledsoe, who this summer signed the richest contract in NFL history ($103 million over 10 years).

"I liked him from the first day I saw him," Namath said. "He's tough, and his teammates love him and he's got a great future."

Brady starred in a 16-13 overtime victory over Oakland in the Patriots' first playoff game, but was hurt in the second quarter of the AFC championship. Bledsoe came off the bench to rescue the team.

SUPER MVPs REMINISCE: Len Dawson, Super Bowl IV MVP in 1970, the first year the game was played in New Orleans, remembers a very different scene from the one surrounding the game this year.

"A lot of newspapers from back east, because it was Kansas City and Minnesota, didn't even bother to send anyone to it," Dawson said. "And there were no formal interview sessions. In those days, reporters would knock on your door, or catch you in the coffee shop."

Dawson, who won the award for completing 12 of 17 passes in the Chiefs' 23-7 victory over the Vikings, was one of six MVPs from the eight New Orleans Super Bowls reminiscing about their games. The group included Desmond Howard (1997), Joe Montana (1990) Richard Dent (1986), Randy White (1978) and Franco Harris (1975).

"I remember the hotel we came to stay in was in bankruptcy," said Harris, who ran for 158 yards on 34 carries in Pittsburgh's 16-6 victory over Minnesota. "We'd been looking forward to it, and then there was no room service, no nothing."

Another thing that has changed is the vehicle the MVP gets. This year's winner will receive a Cadillac.

"I got a Plymouth," Dawson said. "Or maybe it was a Dodge."

"Did you get to keep it?" White asked. "I had to give mine back after a year, then I got taxed for using it."

Hakim, the Rams' third wideout, caught 39 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season. He lost his punt-return job to Dre' Bly in December after losing three fumbles in a five-game span.

Rams defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina missed his second straight day of practice with a hyperextended left elbow, but will play wearing a brace in the Super Bowl on Sunday. Zgonina, listed as questionable, said the elbow shouldn't hinder him.

St. Louis wide receiver Isaac Bruce missed the end of the practice with tightness in his groin.

Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace also skipped the practice, as scheduled, with a strained right knee, but remained on schedule to return today.

St. Louis coach Mike Martz said Rod Jones, who will start his third straight playoff game ahead of the injured Ryan Tucker (ankle) at the other tackle, showed no signs of the groin injury he suffered in Sunday's NFC title game.

LESS-THAN-SUPER START: Pat Summerall, who will announce his 17th and final Super Bowl with Fox partner John Madden on Sunday: "I remember our first Super Bowl, when John sat on my headset. I never thought we'd last this long."